ROCHELLE — Fifteen members of the Rochelle Hub varsity football team brought home All-Conference recognition from the Interstate 8/Kishwaukee River Blue Division coaches for the 2023 season. Twelve of the All-Conference honorees were First-Team award winners, while three Rochelle student-athletes took home Honorable Mentions during the 2023 campaign.

Five Hub linemen received First-Team All-Conference honors in the fall. Those linemen include senior tackle Landon Mickley as well as junior linemen Kaiden Morris, Colton Czekala, Ryan Senne and Jack Carmichael. Mickley concluded his career as a three-year varsity player and a two-year varsity starter at right tackle. Morris was named the I-8/KRC Lineman of the Year for the 2023 season, recording 22 tackles and two sacks while starting all 10 games at right guard.

Czekala took over as Rochelle’s starting center and filled a rotational role on the defensive line for the 2023 season, totaling seven tackles. Senne shined on the defensive side of the ball, recording nine tackles with four tackles for loss and one blocked kick. Carmichael returned as Rochelle’s starting left guard this season and has now played two years on the varsity team.

First-Team All-Conference honorees at the skill positions include junior running back and free safety Grant Gensler as well as junior strong safety and wide receiver Elijah Harley. Gensler was an IHSFCA All-State Honorable Mention in 2023, rushing for 1,085 yards and 12 scores on offense while totaling 39 tackles and one interception on defense. Harley recorded 20 tackles and two pass breakups and hauled in nine catches for 140 yards and one touchdown. 

Freshman running back Dylan Manning earned First-Team All-Conference honors for the first time after rushing for 726 yards and 11 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Carson Lewis also received First-Team All-Conference honors for the first time, throwing for 634 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season as a starter. Junior tight end and defensive end Jack Pavlak was named a First-Team All-Conference honoree after 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack. 

Senior linebacker and tight end Brock Metzger led Rochelle with 58 tackles while adding seven tackles for loss and two sacks to earn First-Team All-Conference and I-8/KRC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Senior cornerback and wide receiver Tommy Tourdot led the Hubs with four interceptions and three pass breakups to take home First-Team All-Conference honors in 2023. 

Rochelle’s three All-Conference Honorable Mentions were junior lineman Alex Pemberton as well as sophomore running back Roman Villalobos and junior cornerback Xavier Villalobos.